The true cost of “free” samples
Many physicians see drug samples as a benefit, because they can give pills to patients who may not be able to afford the medication otherwise. But are these "free" samples really free? More
Free care: Neighboring hospitals may have wildly different policies
Some hospitals in the same cities have very different free care policies. Here are a few examples from the recently released Lown Institute data set. More
The four questions you need to ask your doctor
How do we get the right care in a health system that emphasizes doing more instead of doing better? The key is asking the right questions. More
Key questions about remdesivir still unanswered
Since the release of the initial NIH study results, clinicians and researchers have posed many questions about remdesivir, which have so far gone unanswered. Here are a few of them... More
Policymakers and media put pressure on hospitals to give more free care
A crucial part of hospitals’ social mission is providing care to all who need it, regardless of their ability to pay. But is that actually happening? More
The data-free zone of Covid-19 complicates medical, family decision-making
Covid-19 makes it difficult to practice evidence-based medicine and just as hard to make decisions about the small questions that dictate day-to-day life. More
The new covid-19 drug leaves doctors with more questions than answers
Two studies show promise, but physicians have more questions than answers about the data. More
Colorado Will Pay Hospitals to Close Expensive Free-Standing ERs
Colorado health officials so abhor the high costs associated with free-standing emergency rooms they’re offering to pay hospitals to shut the facilities down. The state wants hospitals to convert them to other purposes, such as providing primary care or mental health services. More
“Do I need to be knocked out for this procedure?” And other questions about anesthesia overuse
General anesthesia is necessary for some medical procedures, but can put children and older adults at risk of harm. In this guest blog, a medical student shares what they're learning about avoiding anesthesia overuse. More
Lown Institute: 7 questions to guide decisions on hospital CEO pay
Amid the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an opportunity for boards of nonprofit hospitals to rethink how their CEOs are paid, particularly compared to the staff at their facilities, representatives with the Lown Institute wrote in a Feb. 10 article published in Health Affairs. The Lown Institute, a nonpartisan healthcare think tank, examined the gap between the pay of hospital staff and the CEO, as well as the implications of it. More
They Were Entitled to Free Care. Hospitals Hounded Them to Pay.
Providence also owes some of its wealth to its nonprofit status. In 2019, the latest year available, Providence received roughly $1.2 billion in federal, state and local tax breaks, according to the Lown Institute, a think tank that studies health care.
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Summer updates in conflicts of interest research
Recent developments in research on financial conflicts of interest in medicine are helping health care watchdogs hold health professionals and institutions accountable for their financial relationships with industry. Read on! More
Private equity is getting into the c-section game in Florida; we have questions
A new law in Florida allows for doctors to perform c-sections outside of hospitals. How could this impact overuse and maternal health outcomes? More
“Hefty” CEO pay at children’s hospital raises questions
This children's hospital paid their CEO more than they spent on financial assistance. What explains this upward trend in executive pay? More
Use of term ‘low value’ may leave Black, Latinx patients with questions about access to care
This is the second of two articles on reframing the debate about low-benefit treatments. More
Some Tucsonans report being billed for free COVID-19 vaccines
Some vaccinated at Banner Health sites in Tucson have received $71 bills. Banner says the bills were a mistake and that anyone who paid them can get their money back. More
Robotic Surgical Tool, Not Medical Evidence, Drives Free Hernia Screenings
Hospitals say such screenings provide valuable education about treatment options for the common medical condition, in which part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. But no research has been done on hernia screenings, and some experts worry that these outreach efforts — some of which showcase da Vinci robotic surgery devices made by Intuitive Surgical based in Sunnyvale, Calif. — could lead people to get potentially harmful operations they don’t need. More
Five Important Questions About Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine
The drugmaker says its mRNA vaccine worked in 90% of patients in its trial, but some observers question how long immunity will last and who will benefit. More
To Free Doctors From Computers, Far-Flung Scribes Are Now Taking Notes For Them
Paid even less than low-wage doctors’ scribes in the United States, remote note takers in India gain a foothold in a rapidly expanding industry. More
Coronavirus Tests Are Supposed to Be Free. The Surprise Bills Come Anyway.
Congress sought to ensure that patients would not face costs connected to the virus. But rules are not always being followed. More